Only Fools remake axed

Adaptation fails in the US

Executives at the ABC network have passed on the series, renamed Kings Of Van Nuys, following a pilot.

The test episode starred John Leguizamo as as Del and Dustin Ybarra as his brother Rodney, with Christopher Lloyd as granddad.

It is the second time a planned remake has hit the buffers. It was originally piloted last season, but ABC chief Paul Lee is said to be such a big fan of the BBC original that he ordered the second attempt.

The news, reported on industry website Deadline, will come as no surprise to original Del Boy star Sir David Jason, who has previously spoken about how the show would never translate to US audiences.

Earlier this year, he said: ‘I don't see that it will travel across the pond. The language will have to change so much and there will be so many parts of the storyline you have to change. It's so London and so British in its humour.’